Ford to launch 3 new SUVs in India, likely to invest another $1 Billion - Report

Ford is likely to invest another $1 billion in Indian operations over the next five to seven years. A sizeable portion of this investment would go into three new SUVs.

Ford will invest no less than $500 million in the development of new B-SUVs in India.

The report says that two new indigenously developed Ford SUVs are in the pipeline. One is a sub-4 metre B-SUV codenamed BX744 and due in 2021, and one is a premium B-SUV codenamed BX745 and planned for launch in 2022. The BX744 is an India-specific model. In all likeliness, it will replace the Ford EcoSport. The BX745 will be a Hyundai Creta rival aimed at not only India but also other emerging markets such as Brazil and China. No less than $500 million will be invested in the development of these SUVs in India. Additionally, $400-500 million will likely be invested in Project Black - Ford's partnership with Mahindra, under which a co-developed Ford C-SUV has already been confirmed.

Ford is not confirming the additional investment in India and the two new B-SIVs just yet. “Beyond independently penetrating the Indian market, Ford is looking at ways and means of participating in the global emerging market in tandem with Mahindra. A partial JV may not be ruled out… maybe one of the plants, but exiting is definitely out of question,” a person in the know-how of the latest developments has said.

India will get Ford models co-developed with Mahindra as well. The first of these models will be the Aspire Electric arriving later this year.